Wheel gauge



Dec. 25, 1934.

E. M. STARR .WHEEL GAUGE Filed Oct. 19, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR M$12 ATTORNEY E. M, STARR Dec. 25, 1934.

WHEEL GAUGE Filed Oct. 19. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNyENTOR I7Z6ZM$QI 4ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1934* I E. 'M. sTAhR WHEEL GAUGE Filed Oct. 19, 1931 45 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwumlioc E mz'ZM. 5221M reenter 1).... 55,19 1,985,330

. UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs WHEEL GAUGE Emil M. Starr, Pasadena,Calii' 'assignor to A. E.

Feragen, Inc., Seattle, Wash, a corporation of Washington ApplicationOctober 19, 1931, Serial No. 569,741 29 Claims. (cl. 33-203) Thisapplication is a continuation in part of clamp employed in securing thegauge to a metal my application Serial No. 213,042,-flled Augustdiskwheel. 15, 1927 I Figure 7 is a side elevation 01 the gauge appliedMy invention relates to an instrument used for to the spindle of a frontwheel. the purpose of gauging, in angular units, the in- Figure 8 is. afront elevation of a portion oi 6 clination of the members controllingsteering of the gauge, thus applied. a vehicle (for instance, the frontor steering Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on wheel), bydirect application of the gauge to such the line 9-9 of Figure 8.member, the indicator being controlled by grav- My invention embodiedin'the form illustrated i s. u h gauging pe ati ns ar performed incomprises a framework, bar, or mounting gen- 10 the measurement of thecamber of the steering erally designated by the numeral 14. Two rodswheels of an automobile, or 01' the spindle where- 14 are shown in thepresent embodiment, conon such a wheel is to be mounted, in measuringnected by a pair of plates 10 and 11, and a pair the caster of the axle,and in the measurement of bars 12 and 13', one plate and bar beingsecured of king-pin inclination. at the bottom of the mounting, and theother at 1 It is the object of my invention to provide a the top. Tomake a rigid connection, the rods gauge of the character indicated whichmay 14 may. have their ends'reduced, as shown at 15, quickly be appliedto a wheel or like member, and to provide shoulders 16, and the reducedends 15 if the wheel is found to be incorrect, it may be extend throughregistering openings 1'7 formed laid aside and necessarycorrectionmade-as for in the plates and bars, being threaded to receiveinstance, by Way O b d n t x t0 00rre0tfnuts18 to clamp the plates andbars against the camber -P inclination, 01' by inserting shoulders 16.This provides a rigid rectangular tapered shims between the axle andvehicle frame, and thus connected the projection of each springs tocorrect caster-and whereby the inplate. n-om the rods 14, o;- either ofthem, is fixed strument may again be applied to the wheel' in angle anddirection. without delay, and the work checked from time to V A. thirdlate 19, and a third bar 20 secured time as t progresses, Without d a ngthe work thereto by bolts 21, (omitted from Fig. 2 for or of n s y quira y lab rate pr paraclearness or illustration), are slidably mountedtion or setting up of the gauge. 1 on the mounting thus formed-that isto say, on

It is also one of the objects of my invention to th rod 14, the twobeing provided with registerprovide agauging instrument or the characterinm openings 22,. th1 hi h the rods 14 are cfl d ab which may beSupported c y received, and permitting the plate 19 and its p h wh anwhich may be detachably sebar 20 to slide freely up and down these rods,cured to it e o d n o metal spoke wheels, which are rigidly heldparallel, as heretofore Wire Spoke W al sk Wh h described. The angle anddirection 01 projection gg l ig i i en n b e of this plate relative tothe rods 14 is thus fixed,

e prmcp es 0 my V 0 may similarly to the plates 10 and 11. q in widelyforms I shall An indicator is provided, supported from the scribe theseprinciples as embodied in a simple mounting and so held in connectionwith the and convenient form which has iound-satismates 19 and n or agraduated scale plate 50 4o factory in practice.

Figure 1 is a view showing, in side elevation, supported on the latterthat it will mdica'te e the inclination of the one form of gauginginstrument em my. gravity controlled means invention applied to a wheelof the artillery or mounting with respect to the vertical- Such anwooden spoke type. I indicator may comprise the plumb bob 26, the

Figure 2 is an axial section taken on the line upportin8 mm 23 i whichpassed without bind- 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in thedirection o! the methrough an. ope n 24 in the dju arrows. plate 19, and is secured in anopening 25 in the Figures 3 and 4 are detail sectional views taken upperplate 10. hus suspended, t plumb o respectively on the lines 3-3 and 4-4or 26, when the mounting is vertical, is positioned Figure .1. Idirectly above the intersection of cross lines 27 Figure 5 is a detailsectional view illustrating and 28 upon h sc le pl e 50; nd n iethemanner in which the gauge is secured to a placement or the mountin romvertical ms wheel or the metal disk t tion, the plumb bob will swingwith relation to Figure 6 is a detail perspective view oi. the scalemarks?!) (and in addition, with respect 2. 1,es s,sso

. j 4 to the crosslines 27 and 28) to indicate such latter with theplate 19 is free to slide-along the departure ironi the vertical. rods14. The plate 19 and bar 20 are accordingly The adjustable plate 19 andthe lower plate 11 capable of being adiustably clamped in position areprovided with trammel points or fingers 38 inside the ielloe 38, and asbefore stated, this and 3'! respectively, which may be formed byprovides ioradjusting-the plate 19 relative to the 5 re'cessing theinner edge 01 the respective plates, plate 11 diflerent distances apartin accordance as indicated at 34 and 35. These points are so with thediameters of diilerentsized wheels, and disposed and ed from the rods 14as to deiine the aperture 24 determines the point from which a plane pael to theplane or. the rods, For the plumb bob line 23 swings relativeto such 7 bearing some other definite relationship thereto. diameter, sothat the eflective lengt ot the cord 10 These .trammel points may now beappli to or line 23 is thus made adjustable in accordance the wheel, forinstance, the ielloe 38, contacting with the diameter of the wheel towhich the deat opposite sides 01a horizontal line through viceisa plied.r thev wheel's axis, and if the points 36 and 3'! are I! the wheel-to begauged is a disk wheel, the 15 equally spaced from the moimting, theircontact clamp. C, shown in Figures 5 and 6, may be em- 15 in one planewith the ielloe will cause themountployed, The clamp C, comprises an'L-shaw ing to lie in a plane which is parallel to the memberconstructed to provide an arm 39 having .plane oithe Ielloe (which ofcourse is the plane an opening 40 extending therethrough near one of hwh l it and i he whe l is'inclined. end, and a threaded stud41projecting from its as should be the case for proper steering, the otherend and adapted to extend ireely through 20 inclination, with the gaugethus applied, will ,an opening formed in a strap 42 having a pair of beshown by movement of the gravity-controlled concave recesses 42corresponding in spacing to indicator-that is, by the swinging oi theplumb that of the rods;1 4 oi'the mounting. bob 26 outwardly from theintersection of the The studs 30 and 31 are not required in cases crosslines 2'! and 28, and the amount of this where it is desirable to securethe instrument to 25 inclination can be read in the angular units 29.. va disk wheel, and it they are in-plac e' they are The-slidablemouilifiing oi the plate 19 on the rods first removed from theirrespective bars. One of 14 permits adjust ent of the plate along therods the nuts 43 of the hub bolts 44, for securing the to accommodatewheels of different sizes, so that disk wheel W to its hub 48,- isremoved, and the the instrument can be applied-to all sizes of arm 391sappiiedtothe bolt'44,asshowninFlgure 30 .5, the nut 43 now beingreplaced and tightened with the instrument applied to the wheel W tosecure the member C iirmly to the wheel. The in the manner abovedescribed, and withthestrap .42 is now' applied to the stud 41, and itswheeli'acing directly forward-oi the vehicle, any recesses'42' engagedwith the rods 14, these being 35 camber existing in the wheel will bevisibly and held bythe operator with the contact points 36 35 Vaccurately-indies on the scale plate 50, by the and 3'1 applied tothewheel,in the same posiposition ot the pointed end 0!- theplumb bob 26tion asis shown in Figure 1. A nut 47 isthen with respect tothe'graduations 29, the plumb threaded on the stud 41 and tighteneduntil-the bob of course maintaining itsvertical position at trammelpoints 36 and 37 of the plates 19 and 11 4o alltimes andswingingrelatlvely to tli mountrespectively are forced into flrmengagement with ingv from the under aided the plate 19 sea the rielloe49,01 the wheel, thus. securing the center, an amountfldirectly'proportionate to the mounting to the disk wheel. inclination of thewheel from the vertical. To determine the caster oi the axle--,-that is,Should the wheel be without camber, the pointed the inclinationforwardly and downwardly oi the 45 end-oi the plumbbob 26.,will remaindirectly. king pin K irom.the verticalit is desirable, 45-

' above the point of; intersection of the lines 3'1 though notessential, that the gauge be secured and 28, or," it the wheel shouldhave negative to the wheel, so that while passing through the 1 camber,it will lie inside of; this intersection. straight-ahead position,itwill be vertical as seen In the event. that thecainber oi the wheelironnthe side of the wheel, but will be'inclined is found to beincorrect, the axle A would .o'rdias the wheel rolls over the inclinedking pin when 50 narily be bent, and the instrument may'belaid, in theforward, and in the rearward positions, aside during this bendingoperation and again as will be understood from theiollowingdescripappliedtothe wheel in-thpmanner indicated, the tion. Thus, todetermine caste ,"eaclr'wheel is bending opera vons continuing,alternating with turned that right and then left an edual amount gauginoperations, until the proper camber? is (say-30) from the straight-aheadposition. Any 55 indicated. The mounting should be caster in the axlewill tend to neutralize the emgenerally ertical; with relation toitsfore-ahdher of the wheel when the wheel lies in aplane at position,during such a meat, and this in advance 0! the axle, turned in, and theangular can be determinedlbythe'registryoi 'theplumb reading will bedecreased. when the wheel liesoo bob with the. line 2'1, though'it mayregister behind theaxle,turnedout, the caster angle supo0 therewith atdifferent. points-therealong. "plements the camber angle A d the gaugereading some operators may preierthat the more be. will be increased.-The gauge reading turned out,

attached to the wheel, in order tom the less the gauge reading turnedLin, ives the necessityof applying the gauge each .time and. casterangle directly, if the wheel has been turned permitting the plumb bob'tocome to rest, and 39,each way. ,Thus the caster angle tor each 65 thisis particularly desirable in'thet endo! the axleican be determined, andcom of casterfaswillbedescribedhereaiter. l'orsuch pared to that oi'theopposite end and to the purposes, threaded studs 39 and 31 are receivedrecognize -standard for. the particular car under in the respective bars20 and 13, and extend consideration. Should the casterbeioundincorinwardly therefrom between the spokes o! the root, a shim (notshown) of the proper taper can/ii I wheel W, and :then through opening:formed in be inserted between axle A and the springs resting i .-shapedclamping brackets 32, aiter, which nuts thereon, which constitutes theequivalent of twist 33, threadedon the ends of the studs, clamp the ingthe axle and hence varying the caste or, ii mounting to the wheelielloe. As shownin l'ig. iacilities are available, the axle itself maybe 2, the bolt 30 is attached-to the bar 30, which twist d.

a 1,98 6,880 A v 3 It will be understood that, due tothe inclination inghaving means for detachably securing it to of the king pin K, the pointof the weight -26 a vehicle wheel for movement bodily.therewith, may lirearwardly of the cross line 2"! withlthea scale plate fixed to themounting, and an inwheel turned in, and forwardly thereof with thedicator depending from 'a point on the mounting 5,wheel turned out; butthis will notaifect'the above the scale plate for swinging movementreading with r spect to the graduations 29, and -thereover andconstantly acting to maintain a itis these rea ingswhich give the cas bythe method just described. l

It will be rebognized that errors of caster ,or

the wheel fromthe vertical and the deviation from a horizontal plane ofthe planeof rotation 10 camber maybe due partly or wholly to a. bent ofthe wheel about theaxis of its king pin during spindle, worn bushings orwheel bearings, and steering movement of the wheel, whereby the tovarious like causes, and that certain errors amountof inclination of thewheel due either to may creep in because of the mounting of the itscamber or'the caster .of the kingpin is wheel upon its spindle. Inorder, therefore, to adapted to be visibly indicated on the scale platecheck caster and, camber more directly, it may .by said-indicator. v

be desirable to apply the gauge to the spindle 6.4 gauging instrumentcomprising a mount instead of to the wheel which is mounted upon inghaving means for securing it" to a vehicle ,that spindle. The gauge neednot he changed wheel for movement bodily therewith, a dial fixed forthis purpose, but it is only necessary to protothe mounting, andmeanscarried by the mount- 20 vide a means whereby'the gauge, as described,ing for movement over the dial and constantly may be mounted upon thespindle itself, and acting to maintain a given position controlled anysuitable means for this purpose may be 'by gravity regardless of theinclination of the employed. wheel from the vertical and the deviationfrom Thus, as is shown Figures 7, 8 and 9, aa horizontal plane of theplane of swing of the 5 plate 5l'may be centrally aperturedto bereceived wheel about theaxis of the king pin during upon thethreaded'end of a spindle S, and will steering movement of the wheel,whereby the seat against a shoulder 52 thereof or will other-'inclination of. the wheel due either to the camber wise be positioned ina plane atright angles to of the wheel or the caster of the king/pin isthe axis of the spindle. It may be grooved, as adapted to be indlcatedonthe dial by said last 3 indicated at 53, vtoreceive the two rods 14, andmeans.

the strap 42 heretofore described, received new 'l.- A gauginginstrument comprising a mount on the threaded end of the spindle andheld ins. means 855601831 he Secure t thereto by the nut 54, cooperateswith the plate same to a steerable vehicle wheel for swinging to clampthe mounting and as a means of apply-v movement bodily with the wheel asthe latter is ing the same to the spindle in a position which swung onits king pin, and gravity-controlled is perpendicular to the spindlesaxis. Camber means carried by the mounting and adapted to inand castermeasurements may be made as heredlcate the amount of inclination of thewheel 40 the gauge. J

tofore described, and correctionsfor observed relative tothe vertical.

' errors may likewise be made; without disturbing I ing having means bywhich the mounting is at I claimas my'invention is: adapted tobedetachably applied to a vehicle's 1. In combination, a mounting havingmeans front wheel for swinging movement bodily with for securing it to asteerable vehicle wheel for the wh l as t e la is s u On t king Dswinging movement bodily with the wheel as the and *gravityr'contrplled'means carried by the 45 latter is swung on its kingpin, and-meanscarried mounting by w h the ca e e Wheel,

/ by:tlie mounting for indicating theincllnatiori and the inclination ofits plane, from which the of thewheel relative to the vertical.

2. In combination, a mounting having means to he visibly indicated.

for detachably p porting it upon a steerable 9. Asauging instrum nt cmpris sa un n vehicle wheel for swinging movement'bodily with havingmeans by which the mounting is adapted 55 for detachably securing it toa'steerable vehicle the wheel as the latter is swung on its kingtobedetaichably secured toavehicles front wheel pin, and means carriedby the mounting for-for movementrbodily with the latter, a scale visiblyindicating the inclination of the wheel.

, 3. In combination, "a mounting having means angular related lines, oneatright angles to the plane of the .wheel, and graduations, extending I7 wheel for swinging movement bodily with the; along that line which isat right angles to the 65 wheel.

wheel as the latter is swimg onii-ts king pin, a plane of the wheel, andan indicator carried byscale plate supported from themounting, and themounting for movement over the graduations an indicator carried by themounting and movof the-scale plate and gravity-controlled to main- 7 H60 able relative thereto over the surface of the scale tain a verticalposition regardless of the inclinaplate, said indioatorcons'tantlyactingto maintion of the wheel from the vertical and the deviatain a verticalposition regardlessof the inclination from a horizontal plane ofrotation of the tion of the wheel from the vertical, so as to' wheelabout the axis of the kingpin duringsteerindicate on the scale plate theinclinationof the ing movement of the wheel, whereby the camber v ofthe'wheel and its inclination. from which the 4. In combination, amounting having means' caster of the axle can be determined, are indi-.for detachably applying it to a vehicle wheel for cated on the scaleplate by said indicator. movement bodily therewith, a scale'plate fixed10. A gauging instrument comprising a mountto the mounting and providedwith g'raduatiops, ing having means bye which the mounting is '7 and aplumb bob suspended from the mounting adapted tote detachably secured'to a vehicle's to'swing over the graduations of the scale plate frontwheel mountedfor steering movement on a and cooperating therewith toindicate the wheel's king pin carried by the axle of the vehicle, ainclination, in determining the camber of the graduated dial fixed tothe mounting, anda plumb wheel and the casterof the axle. bob suspendedfrom the mounting and including 5 5. A gauging instrument comprising amountanindicator movable in a plane above the dial angle verticalposition regardless of the inclination ofplate fixed to the mounting'andhaving two right 8. A gauging instrument comprising'a mount- I caster ofthe axle can be determined, are adapted the camber of the wheel. and itsinclination due to the caster of the king pin are adapted to beindicated on the dialn 11. A gauging instrument comprising a mounting.including a pair of plates, a bar for each of the plates, a pair of rodsdisposed in spaced parallel relation and having reduced threaded endsextending through the plates and bars, nuts on the educed ends of therods for clamping the plate and bars to the rods and thereby provide a'rectangular frame, a third plate and bar secured together and slidablymounted on the rods,

of the pair of plates, a flexible a scale plate secured to one a plumbbob comprising a weight and cord secured to the weight and threadedthrough said third plate and securedt the other of said pair of platesso as to suspend the weight for swinging movement over'the scale plate,threaded studs extending laterally from one of the pair of bars and fromthe thirdbar, L-shaped clamps on the studs, and nuts threaded on thestuds.

'12. A gauging instrument comprising a mounting including a pair ofplates, a bar for each of the plates, a pair of rods disposed in spacedpar allel relation and having reduced threaded ends extending throughthe plates and bars, nuts on the reduced ends of the rods for clampingthe plates and bars to the rods and thereby provide a rectangular frame,a third plate and bar secured together and slidably mounted on the rods,

a scale plate secured to one of the pair of plates,

a plumb bob, a flexible cord secured to the plumb bob and threadedthrough said third plate and secured to the other of said pair of platesso as to suspend the plumb bob for swinging movement over the scaleplate,',and a clamp comprising an L-shaped member comprising a threadedstud and an arm adapted to be secured to a hub bolt of a disk wheel, astrap apertured to receive said stud, and adapted to be engaged withsaid rods, and a nut threaded on the stud to draw the strap against therods.

13. A gauging instrument ing having means by which the mounting isadapted to be detachably secured to a vehicle's front wheel mounted forsteering movement on a king pin carried by the axle of the vehicle, ascale plate fixed to the mounting, and a plumb bob suspended-from themounting for movement over the graduations of the scale, and by whichthe camber of the wheel and its inclination due to the caster of theking pin'are adapted to be indicated on the scale plate, said means bywhich the mounting is adapted to'be secured to the wheel comprisingthreaded studs secured to the mounting, brackets mounted on the studs,and nuts threaded on the studs and adapted to engage the brackets.

14. A gauging instrument comprising a mounting having means by which themounting is adapted to be detachably secured to a vehicle's front wheelmounted for steerin movement on a king pin carried by the axle of thevehicle, a scale plate fixed to the mounting, and a plumb bob suspendedfrom the mounting for movement over the graduations of the scale, and bywhich I the camber of the wheel and its inclination due to the caster ofthe king pin are adapted to be indicated on the scale plate, said scaleplate having lines disposed in intersecting right angular relation, andgraduations in intersecting relation to one of the lines. and disposedat opposite sides and parallel to the other of the lines. 15. A gauginginstrument comprising a mountcomprising amount-1 ing having means bywhich the mounting is adaptedto be detachably secured to avehicles frontwheel mounted for steering movement on a king pin carried by the axle ofthe vehicle, a dial fixed to the mounting and having its upper surfacegraduated, and a plumb bob suspended from the mounting and dial torunrestricted movement over the graduations of the dial, to therebyindicate on the dial the camber of the wheel and its inclination due tocaster 'of the king pin.

16. A gauging instrument comprising a mounting, means so engageable withportions of a wheel within the outside diameter of the latter as to afix the position of, the mounting relative to the,

' 1'7, A wheel gauge of the character described,

disposed wholly above the comprising two contact members spaced toengage avehicle' wheel at opposite sides of a horizontal line throughits axis, a frame member'connecting 2 saidcontact members to maintainthem relatively fixed in position, and means to indicate the inclinationof the wheel relative to the vertical when the gauge is thus applied toit.

. 18. A wheel gauge of the character described, comprising two contactmembers spaced to engage a vehicle wheel at opposite sides of ahorizontal line through its axis, a connecting member maintaining said'contact members relatively fixed in position, and gravity-controlledmeans carried by said connecting member to indicate the amount ofinclination of tical when the contact members are thus engagedtherewith.

J 13. In a wheel gauge of a rod, means to maintain the rod inpredetermined relationship to the plane of the wheel, andgravity-controlled the character described,

means supported from said rod for indicating the I amount of inclinationof the wheel relative to the vertical. j I

20. In a wheel gauge of the. character described, a rod, meansprojecting a definite distance therefrom, and engageable with the wheelto hold the rod in parallelism with and gravity-controlled means on saidrod for indicating the amount of inclination of the rod relative to thevertical.

21. In a wheel gauge of the character described, a rod, gauge fingersspaced apart on said rod and projecting a definite distance therefrom toe gagethe wheel at opposite line through its axis, to hold the rod in apredetermined position relative to the plane of the wheel, and meanson'the rod for indicating the inclination of the wheel relative to thevertical.

the wheel relative to the verthe plane of the wheel,

sides of a horizontal thereon engageable with the wheel 22, In a wheelgauge of the character described,

a rod, gauge fingers spaced apart on said rod engage the wheel atopposite sides of a horizontal line through its axis, to hold the rod ina predetermined position felative to the plane of the.

wheel, and gravity-controlled means on the rod for indicating theinclination! the wheel rela-.'

plane, and means carried by the mounting for indefinite relationship toits 1,986,330 indicating; the inclination oi the wheel relative to thevertical.

24. In a gauge of the character described, in combination, a mountinghaving means for supporting it from a vehicle element indefiniterelationship to the axis of rotation of a wheel of the vehicle, andmeans carried by the mounting for indicating the amount of inclinationof the wheels axis 'relative to the horizontal.

25. In a wheel gauge of the class described, a straight bar, two gaugearms secured to said bar in spaced apart. relation for engaging with therim of a wheel on opposite sides of the hub,

one of said gauge arms being forked to prevent sidewise tilting of thebar, said gauge arms holding the bar in a predetermined positionrelative.

to the plane of the wheel, and means on the bar for indicating theamount of inclination of the bar relative to the vertical.

26. The method of determining the caster angle of an automobile kingpin, which consists in swinging the wheel upon such king pin forwardthrough a known angle from the straight-1 ahead position, determiningthe inclination of the wheels plane from the vertical in such position,swinging the wheel upon the king pin such position, swinging the wheeluponthe king pin through'an angle of 30 forward from the straight-aheadposition, determining the angle of inclination of the wheels plane insuch latter position, and'subtracting the inclination angle 5 swungforward from the angle swung rearward, to arrive at the caster angle. 128. The method of determining the caster .angle of an automobile kingpin which consists in swinging the spindle upon such king pin rearwardthrough an angle of 30 from the straightahead position, determining anangle corresponding to the change in angle of the spindle's axis inaccomplishing such 30 swing, swinging the spindle upon the king pinthrough an angle of 30 forward from the straight-ahead position,determining an angle corresponding to the change in angle of thespindle's axis in accomplishing the latter 30 swing, and subtracting thelatter angle from the former to arrive at the *caster angle.

29: The method of determining the anglejoi the axis of an automobileking pin to the vertical which consists inswinging the spindle mountedupon said king pin through a known horizontal angle from straight-aheadposition, in one direction, measuring an angle which is a function ofthe [change of position of such spindle in the swung position, thenswinging the spindle through a like horizontal angle from the 30straight-ahead position, in the opposite direction,

measuring an angle corresponding to the first which is a function or thesecond swung position, and algebraically subtracting the one measuredangle from the'other in such manner as to give a positive angle, whichis a iunctionof spindles angle to the vertical.

- EMIL M. STARR.

the

